Lands Commission sensitizes public against multiple sale of same land

The Upper East Regional office of the Lands Commission has kicked off its campaign on regularizing lands in the region.

The exercise is part of Lands Administration Month, aimed at educating the public to register their lands and pay ground rent for development and proper planning.

According to the Commission, many people do not know where to get their lands documented. Others are unaware of the registration processes.

Staff of the Commission held a float through the principal streets of Bolgatanga to sensitize the public. They used public information systems and distributed flyers that simplify land registration and its importance.

Residents have since expressed interest in visiting the Commission to register their undocumented lands. Some said the lack of registration has led to litigation and conflicts affecting individuals, families and institutions in the region.

One officer of the Commission, Severin Asobayire said the region has recorded a high number of registered lands. However, he stressed the need to reach more landowners on the importance of documenting their lands.

"We have seen an increase in the registration of lands and other land-related documents. But many people do not know about our processes. They do not know where to go when they have challenges. They don't even know the basic procedure for buying land. That is why we want to go closer to them, inform them about where we are located, what we do, and how we can help resolve their issues," he said.

Mr. Asobayire added that it is unlawful to sell the same piece of land to two or more people.

"We advise landowners, traditional authorities, individuals and families who sell land to keep proper records. This helps track who a parcel has been sold to and avoids double sale. One land should go to one person. The law will deal with anyone who deliberately sells one parcel to two or more people."

Records from the Commission show that in 2025, it received 786 land documents and registered 688. As of August 2026, it has received 571 and registered 420, a remarkable achievement.